Problem with Littmann or suppose to be like this??

[MJ-12]

Let me just give a bit of back ground. I am a nursing studen and am just about to go into clinicals. I just got a Littmann stethoscope because I heard unbelievable things about them, most nurses and doctors have them and suggest to get one.

Well thats exactly what I did i got a Littmann Master Classic II and its pretty good.

The problem I am having is that I think when I use the stethoscope is that when I put it in my ears and press on the bell there is a huge amout of pressure and if feels like my ears are going to pop. Its like putting your hand on your ears and creating a suction feeling.

The feeling is very uncomfterable but I am able to bear through it and take the blood pressure but don't like the feeling. Is this suppose to be normal?? It does say that it has a "Patented Littmann Soft-sealing eartips"

Anyway please give feedback on if this is normal, what littmann you have, and your opinion of your littmann or other stethescopes.

Thanks,

MJ

[jaimealmostRN]

In the directions that came with your littman there are instructions on how to "loosen" them. "To reduce spring tension in the headset, hold each eartube at the bend near the eartip and gradually pull apart until fully extended" Thats on page 2 of my instruction. There's a pic too.

[nursbee04]

I have that stethescope and I have found that I don't have to press as hard on the chestpiece as I did with other scopes because it is more sensitive (Unless I am listening to someone who is very obese). Maybe you could try the regular eartips instead of the soft sealing ones?

[SmilingBluEyes]

That is the beauty of my Littman Steths. I don't have to press hard to hear what I need to. I can barely lay them (I have a pedi and a cardio) on the patients' chests and hear it all. Follow the directions stated above, and you should begin to notice a difference soon!

[RN4NICU, LPN, LVN]

I don't have my own scope as it is against our unit's policy - each baby has its own scope at the bedside. We use the Littmann neonatal scopes and I love them. Ditto what the others have said, you don't have to press very hard. Then again, we don't have much of a chest wall to hear through. :)

[emsboss]

I use a Littman Master that I use on my "bus" I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!! IMHO there is no better 'scope.

[myblkcat]

I don't have a Littman, but I tried a few out when I went to buy my stethescope last year. I had difficulty hearing through the Littman so I didn't buy one. But, I work as a CNA on a cardiac floor. Littman is what all the cardiologists and nurses have. They all recommend it saying it's the best.

[Rena RN 2003, RN]

if it is ear pressure that is making you not like the scope, use the regular hard non-sealing ear tips instead of the soft sealing. it sounds like the tips are fitting your ears too well and causing a backup of pressure.

if you aren't happy because of the quality of sound you are hearing but the scope is comfortable and fine to your ears, try lightening up the pressure just a bit.

i have a littman cardiology and a DRG cardio. for more reasons than one, littman wins hands down.

[Jellibum]

i have a littman cardiology and a drg cardio. for more reasons than one, littman wins hands down.

they are the best. my first scope was a littman and i had a little trouble a first with the ear pressure so, i borrowed a friends for placement. i couldn't hear a thing on a healthy normal child! i've never looked back. i gave her scope back in less than a day and stayed with mine. i can hear everything. it's even good for listening through walls at flat mates conversations :) (a bet only - i promise!)

just change the ear pieces and see if that works - remember it's all about comfort!

~jelli

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I agree about the soft tips. I found that the hard ones helped me better. I also have had a ruptured TM twice and I could put that ear tip up against my cheek and listen with only the right ear. Lay the steth. gently and just barely hold it in place. I have a couple of Master Classic IIs I like, but I really LOVE my Cardiology!

[cabbage patch rn]

I didn't like mine, I actually bought 2 of them. I couldn't hear well either, mabye I was using them incorrectly. I find the cheap scopes work just as well for me.